India, May 4 -- By Sooraj Nanaiah

I remember cycling down Hyder Ali Road at 3 pm on my way to tennis coaching. I was 14 years old, the sun overhead and the heat harsh. But the road - lined with tall rain trees - made it bearable. Their thick canopy provided shade, kept the ground cool and made even a summer afternoon manageable.

That wasn't an accident.

The older parts of Mysore were designed with people in mind. Not cars.

The neighbourhoods I grew up in felt spacious. The streets weren't clogged or crowded. Homes had verandas, open balconies and gardens - not just for looks, but for function. They allowed for airflow, encouraged casual interaction and gave the streets a sense of openness and life that's largely missing today.

And wi...